13 Animating Battle Start and End

Table of Contents

In this tutorial we’ll set up schematics to animate the start and end of our battles.

Our battles take place in a separate battle scene – i.e. we need to remember the scene and position the player was before loading into the battle scene, or we can’t return there after the battle.

Additionally, which battle scene is used depends on the scene the player is in, so we’ll use a string variable that’ll contain the battle scene (we’ll set the variable later in our scenes, not in the schematics here).

We’ll set up:

  • game state
  • battle start schematic
  • battle end schematic for victory (collecting loot)
  • battle end schematic for lost (game over)

Since we don’t use escaping in this game, we don’t need to set up a separate battle end schematic for this battle outcome. Let’s get to it!

Game State #

We’ll begin with setting up a game state – we’ll use this later as a condition for displaying the player’s battle HUD. Our battle start/end schematics will change that game state, giving us exact control over when the HUD should be visible.

Game states are simple states that are either active or inactive. They can be used as conditions for other things and also be changed automatically. A new project already comes with some game states set up, e.g. to check if player controls are blocked. Learn more about game states in this Makinom documentation.

Open the Makinom editor, navigate to Game > Game States and add a new game state.

  • Name
    Set to: Show Battle HUD
  • Initial State
    Disable this setting.

Save Changes #

That’s it for now in the regular editor – before changing to Schematics we need to save our changes.

Save the changes using the Save Settings button at the bottom of the editor.

Battle Start Schematic #

Now, we’ll set up the schematic animating our battle start.

We’ll remember the currently playing music (including it’s track position), the scene and position of the player and do a little zooming animation (camera) before loading into the battle scene.

Navigate to Schematics.

Settings #

We’ll block player/camera controls during the start schematic.

  • Block Player Control
    Enable this setting
  • Block Camera Control
    Enable this setting.

Store Music #

Add Node > Audio > Music > Store Music

We store the currently playing music to be able to resume playing it after the battle (i.e. in a battle end schematic).

The default setup of the node should usually already be what we need. Please note that this depends on which music channel your music is playing on.

  • Music Channel
    Set to 0.
  • Store ID
    Set to 0.

Play Sound (Channel) #

Add Node > Audio > Audio > Play Sound (Channel)

This node plays a sound on a sound channel instead of a game object in the scene.

  • Audio Clip
    Select Select Audio Clip.
    This’ll let us directly define an audio clip in the node instead of setting one up in the Settings node.
  • Audio Clip Asset
    Select the Secret1 audio clip.
    You can find it in Assets/Tutorial Assets/NinjaAdventure/Sounds/Game/.
  • Sound Channel
    Set to 0.
  • Wait
    Disable this setting.
  • Play One Shot
    Enable this setting.

Store Scene #

Add Node > Game > Scene > Store Scene

Stores the current scene and player position.

No further settings needed.

Change Camera Position #

Add Node > Game Object > Camera > Change Camera Position

Changes the camera – either using a camera position (set up in Game > Camera Positions) or settings defined in the node. We’ll use it to change the orthographic size of the camera, i.e. zoom in.

This node should be used while camera controls are blocked, otherwise the active control will immediately reset any changes.

  • Use Target Position
    Enable this setting.
    Instead of a camera position, we’ll define changes in this node.
  • Set Orthographic Size
    Enable this setting.
  • Orthographic Size
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 1.

We’ll fade the camera change to zoom in.

  • Fade Position
    Enable this setting.
  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.3.
  • Wait
    Enable this setting.
  • Interpolation
    Select Linear.

Change Camera Position #

Copy the previous Change Camera Position node – we’ll zoom out again.

  • Orthographic Size
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 5.
  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.2.

Change Camera Position #

Copy the previous Change Camera Position node – we’ll zoom in again, but this time really close.

  • Orthographic Size
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.1.
  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.5.
  • Wait
    Disable this setting.
    Our last zoom will not pause the schematic from progressing, instead it’ll directly continue with loading into the battle scene, making the screen fade of it part of the zoom.

Load Scene #

Add Node > Game > Scene > Load Scene

Now we’ll load the scene the battle should take place in.

As said above, we’ll use the value of a string variable to hold the scene name.

  • Spawn Machine Object
    Enable this setting.
    This will place the machine’s game object instead of the player – in this case, this’ll place the battle game object.

Target Scene 0 #

The Target Scene settings define the scene that will be loaded and where to spawn the machine (e.g. via spawn point).

  • Target Scene
    Select Variable > String Variable (in the popup field on the right side of the setting).
    Set the text to: battleScene
  • Variable Origin
    Select Global.
    We’ll have the scene’s name stored in a global string variable, i.e. it’s available everywhere.
  • Position Type
    Select Spawn ID.
    This’ll use a Spawn Point in the loaded scene to place the battle.
  • Spawn ID
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.
    That’s the ID of the spawn point we already set up in the battle scenes.

Screen Fade Settings #

We handle fading out the screen here.

  • Own Screen Fade
    Enable this setting.
    If disabled, the scene change will use the default screen fade setup (defined in Game > Game Settings).

We’ll use the Screen Fade Out settings – we can stick with the default setup:

  • Fade Out
    Enable this setting.
  • Time
    Set to 0.5.
  • Interpolation
    Select Linear.
  • Fade Alpha/Red/Green/Blue
    Enable these settings.
  • Start Color
    Set to a black color with no alpha (A=0).
  • End Color
    Set to a black color with full alpha (A=1 or A=255, depending on the color picker).

We don’t use the Screen Fade In settings, we’ll fade in later after handling some other things.

  • Fade In
    Disable this setting.

Place At Spots #

Add Node > Battle > Spawn > Place At Spots

This’ll place the already spawned combatants at their battle spots.

This is probably not needed in a this battle start schematic since no spawned combatants should be there – but it doesn’t hurt to have it.

  • Place All
    Enable this setting.

Spawn Battle Combatants #

Add Node > Battle > Spawn > Spawn Battle Combatants

This’ll spawn all combatants participating in battle.

  • Spawn All
    Enable this setting.

Change Music #

Add Node > Audio > Music > Change Music

Now we change the music to our battle music.

  • Music Channel
    Set to 0.
  • Play Type
    Select Play.
  • Music Clip
    Select Battle.

Change Game State #

Add Node > Game > Game > Change Game State

We’ll activate our new game states to show the battle HUD (which we’ll set up later).

Click on Add Game State.

  • Game State
    Select Show Battle HUD.
  • Set State
    Select Active.

Fade Screen #

Add Node > Animation > Fade > Fade Screen

And finally, we’ll fade in the screen.

  • Wait
    Enable this setting.
  • Time
    Set to 0.5.
  • Interpolation
    Select Linear.
  • Fade Alpha/Red/Green/Blue
    Enable these settings.

Click on Swap Colors, that’ll exchange the start and end color, which should now go from full alpha to no alpha.

  • Start Color
    Set to a black color with full alpha (A=1 or A=255, depending on the color picker).
  • End Color
    Set to a black color with no alpha (A=0).

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it, e.g. as BattleStart.

Victory Schematic #

This battle end schematic is used when the player won the battle. We’ll play the victory music, collect our loot and return to the stored scene.

Create a new schematic.

Settings #

  • Block Player Control
    Enable this setting
  • Block Camera Control
    Enable this setting.

Change Music #

Add Node > Audio > Music > Change Music

Play the victory music.

  • Play Type
    Select Play.
  • Music Clip
    Select Victory.

Wait #

Add Node > Base > Wait

Wait a second.

  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 1.

Collect Battle Gains #

Add Node > Battle > Gains > Collect Battle Gains

This node is used to collect experience and loot from a battle – we’ll also display the loot dialogue.

  • Show Gains
    Enable this setting.
  • Collect Loot
    Enable this setting.
  • Collect Experience
    Enable this setting.
  • Wait
    Enable this setting.

Wait #

Add Node > Base > Wait

We’ll wait a short time before returning to the stored scene.

  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 0.5.

Change Music #

Add Node > Audio > Music > Change Music

Now we’ll fade back to the stored music (we stored it in the battle start schematic).

  • Play Type
    Select Fade To.
  • Play Stored Music
    Enable this setting.
  • Fade Time
    Set to 1.
  • Interpolation
    Select Linear.

Change Game State #

Add Node > Game > Game > Change Game State

We’ll inactivate the new game state to hide the HUD again.

Click on Add Game State.

  • Game State
    Select Show Battle HUD.
  • Set State
    Select Inactive.

Load Scene #

Add Node > Game > Scene > Load Scene

We’ll load the scene that was previously stored.

  • Spawn Machine Object
    Disable this setting.
    This time we spawn the player (the battle start schematic used this option to spawn the battle).
  • Scene Origin
    Select Stored.
  • Own Screen Fade
    Disable the setting.
    We’ll just use the default screen fade settings (defined in Game > Game Settings).

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it, e.g. as BattleEndVictory.

Defeat Schematic #

This battle end schematic is used when the player lost the battle. We’ll play the lost music and call game over.

Create a new schematic.

Settings #

  • Block Player Control
    Enable this setting
  • Block Camera Control
    Enable this setting.

Change Music #

Add Node > Audio > Music > Change Music

Play the victory music.

  • Play Type
    Select Fade Out Play.
  • Music Clip
    Select Lost.
  • Fade Time
    Set to 1.
  • Interpolation
    Set to Linear.

Change Game State #

Add Node > Game > Game > Change Game State

We’ll inactivate the new game state to hide the HUD again.

Click on Add Game State.

  • Game State
    Select Show Battle HUD.
  • Set State
    Select Inactive.

Wait #

Add Node > Base > Wait

We’ll wait for 3 seconds.

  • Time
    Select Value > Value.
    Set the value to 3.

Game Over #

Add Node > Game > Game > Game Over

This node will call game over according to the Game Over Settings (in Game > Game Settings).

No further settings.

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic As … to save it, e.g. as BattleEndDefeat.

Using the Schematics #

With our battle start/end schematics set up, we’ll now return to our Turn Based battle system to use the schematics.

Navigate to Battles > Battle System and select the Turn Based battle system.

Base Settings > Battle Start/End Schematics #

We’ll use the schematics we’ve set up.

  • Start Schematic
    Select the BattleStart schematic.
  • Victory Schematic
    Select the BattleEndVictory schematic.
  • Defeat Schematic
    Select the BattleEndDefeat schematic.

Save Changes #

And that’s it!

Save the changes using the Save Settings button at the bottom of the editor.

 

Next, we’ll finally get to adding battles to our game.

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